Business card sizes and paper thickness
Pick the card size and thickness that fit your brand. Standard and square business card sizes, what “16 pt” means, and how finishes change the feel.
Start with the standard size
In the United States a standard business card is 3.5 × 2 in, the size that fits wallets, card holders and scanners. Standard and Rounded Corner Business Cards use it. Square 2 × 2 in and 2.5 × 2.5 in Social Cards stand out in a stack and suit image-led or social-media brands.
Add the bleed to the artwork size
The size you choose is the trimmed size. Build the artwork 0.125 in larger on every edge, so a 3.5 × 2 in card is designed at 3.75 × 2.25 in, and keep names, phone numbers and logos 0.125 in inside the trim line.
Read thickness in points
Card thickness is measured in points, thousandths of an inch: 16 pt cardstock is 0.016 in thick. It feels substantial in the hand and does not bend in a wallet, which is why it is the everyday choice for designXprint business cards. Premium cards add soft-touch, foil or painted edges on top of a sturdy stock.
Choose the surface
UV Gloss makes colors and photos look vivid. UV Gloss Front Only keeps the back writable for appointment notes. Matte gives a quiet, modern look with less glare and is easier to write on. Order a paper sample kit when the exact feel matters.
Products in this guide
- Standard Business CardsMake your first impression count.
- Rounded Corner Business CardsA softer edge. A sharper introduction.
- Social CardsThink outside the rectangle.
designXprint editorial guidance · Reviewed September 2026. Follow the exact specification attached to your selected product.